Dry sprinkler with a diverter seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9737742-B2
Application number	US-201615348340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2016
Priority date	Dec 1, 2004
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A dry sprinkler is provided that includes a structure, a fluid deflecting structure, a locator, a metallic annulus and a shield. The structure defines a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet. The structure has a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge. The fluid deflecting structure is proximate the outlet. The locator is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position. The locator supports the metallic annulus. The metallic annulus includes first and second metallic surfaces spaced apart along the longitudinal axis between an inner and outer circumference with respect to the longitudinal axis. The shield has a first face exposed to the inlet and a second face confronting the first metallic surface to define a gap there between. Various methods are also described.

First claim

What I claim is:

1. A dry sprinkler comprising:
a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge, the structure including an inlet fitting having an inner surface defining a portion of the passageway of the structure and an outer inlet fitting surface for coupling the dry sprinkler to a piping network;
a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet at a first distance in an unactuated mode and at a second distance in an actuated mode, the first and second distance being equal;
an inner assembly including a fluid tube, a guide tube, and a trigger;
a locator coupled to the inner assembly, the locator movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position in the unactuated mode and a second position in the actuated mode;
a metallic annulus being supported by the locator, the metallic annulus including first and second metallic surfaces spaced apart along the longitudinal axis between an inner and outer circumference with respect to the longitudinal axis, the metallic annulus occludes a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position;
a diverter having a frontal surface supported by the locator and disposed about a central axis, the frontal surface defining an outer perimeter, the frontal surface extending continuously between the central axis and the outer perimeter, the frontal surface defining a generally conic surface with a tip portion having a radius of curvature, the frontal surface being located within the portion of the passageway defined by the inner surface of the inlet fitting and having the outer perimeter disposed about the longitudinal axis when the locator is in the first position and the second position.

2. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , the diverter comprising a shield supported by the locator, the generally conic surface being located on the shield, the shield further including a generally planar surface confronting the metallic annulus.

3. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the frontal surface establishes a generally symmetrical fluid flow path about the longitudinal axis through the outlet at a flow rate of at least 95 percent of the rated K-factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet in pounds per square inch gauge.

4. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the inlet fitting comprises a sealing surface disposed about the longitudinal axis proximate the inlet.

5. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein, when the locator is located in the first position, the first metallic surface is contiguous to a sealing surface of the inlet fitting.

6. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the first and second metallic surfaces circumscribe the longitudinal axis to define a generally truncated cone with its base generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis when the locator is in the second position.

7. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the inlet fitting comprises a generally cylindrical outer surface having one of ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1.25 inch NPT and 7-1 ISO threads formed thereon.

8. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the inlet fitting further comprises a curved surface exposed to the inlet, the curved surface being connected to a generally planar sealing surface, the generally planar sealing surface being coupled to a truncated conical surface facing the longitudinal axis adjacent the generally planar sealing surface.

9. The dry sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the locator comprises a yoke and a diverter assembly, the diverter assembly being fixed via a connector to the yoke, the yoke being connected to the fluid tube of the inner assembly, the diverter assembly providing the frontal surface.

10. A dry sprinkler having an unactuated mode and an actuated mode comprising:
a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge; the structure including an inlet fitting having an inner surface defining a portion of the passageway of the structure and an outer inlet fitting surface for coupling the dry sprinkler to a piping network;
a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet at a first distance in the unactuated mode and at a second distance in the actuated mode, the first and second distances being equal;
means for establishing a generally symmetrical fluid flow path about the longitudinal axis through the outlet at a flow rate of at least 95 percent of the rated K-factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet in pounds per square inch gauge, the means including:
a locator coupled to an inner assembly, the inner assembly having a fluid tube, the tube defining a fluid passage within the structure, the locator and the fluid tube being movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, and
a diverter assembly supported by the locator for occluding a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is in the first position and located within the inlet fitting, the diverter assembly including a mounting portion fixed to the locator such that the diverter assembly is not free to translate with respect to the locator when the locator is in the second position and located within the inlet fitting, the diverter assembly further including a first face defining a generally conic surface with a tip portion having a radius of curvature.

11. The dry sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the diverter assembly further includes:
a metallic annulus having first and second metallic surfaces spaced apart along the longitudinal axis between an inner circumference and outer circumference with respect to the longitudinal axis, the metallic annulus occluding the flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position; and
a shield having the first face, the first face being exposed to the inlet, a second face confronting the first metallic surface to define a gap therebetween;
wherein the mounting portion supports the metallic annulus and the shield, the mounting portion further having a third face confronting the second metallic surface.

12. The dry sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the inlet fitting comprises a sealing surface disposed about the longitudinal axis proximate the inlet.

13. The dry sprinkler of claim 11 , wherein the first and second metallic surfaces comprise a planar surface generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first metallic surface being contiguous to the sealing surface when the locator is in the first position.

14. The dry sprinkler of claim 11 , wherein the first and second metallic surfaces circumscribe the longitudinal axis to define a cone with its base generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis in the second position of the locator.

15. A dry sprinkler having an unactuated mode and an actuated mode comprising:
a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fe

Assignees

• Tyco Fire Products Lp

Inventors

• Silva Jr Manuel R

Classifications

• A62C37/14 Primary

  with frangible vessels · CPC title

• A62C37/08

  comprising an outlet device containing a sensor, or itself being the sensor, i.e. self-contained sprinklers · CPC title

• A62C37/10

  Releasing means, e.g. electrically released · CPC title

• A62C37/11

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C35/62 Primary

  dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use · CPC title